SHED Architecture Merges Concrete, Wood and Aluminum in a Cozy Refuge for an Elderly Seattle Couple

This single family house in Seattle, the Main Street House, merges concrete, wood and aluminum in a way that references brutalist architecture, yet still manages to feel cozy and warm. SHED Architecture & Design designed the house for an elderly couple looking for a space which would provide nice views of the surroundings and optimal amounts of natural light.

The house is located in Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood and takes its name from the pedestrian path that that connects its site to the north. The 20-foot slope enabled the architects to design a multifaceted space with subtle concrete detailing and plenty of vegetation. Large windows offer partial views of Lake Washington, Leschi Park and the surrounding landscape and, on the top floor, open onto an outdoor roof deck carved into the sloped part of the roof.

The interior is bathed in natural light and features details in wood paired with white walls and ceilings. Concrete horizontal siding of the outdoor staircase and casually positioned planting create an appearance of weathered surfaces and spaces that give the house a more natural feel. A small seating area in the back extends the house’s connection to nature and responds to the couple’s requirement of having a house that can “engage the site and surroundings while retaining a sense of refuge.”